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Review your builder →← All guidesHow to choose a snagging inspector
A good report is your strongest evidence.
A professional snagging survey is an independent inspection of your new home that lists every defect, with photographs. It’s one of the most powerful things you can do as a new-build owner — a qualified inspector’s report is hard for a builder to brush off, and it carries real weight if your case ever reaches the New Homes Ombudsman. Here’s how to pick a good one.
What to look for
✓A recognised professional qualification
Look for membership of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), CABE / MCABE (Chartered Association of Building Engineers) or the RPSA (Residential Property Surveyors Association). This is the big one: a qualified inspector’s report carries real weight with a builder — and with the New Homes Ombudsman if it ever gets that far.
✓Professional indemnity insurance
Any reputable inspector carries professional indemnity (PI) cover. It protects you if something is missed. Ask to see it — a good firm will share it without hesitation.
✓Genuinely independent
The best inspectors inspect, and that’s all. Be cautious of anyone who also offers to carry out the remedial work — that’s a conflict of interest. You want an honest list of every defect, not a sales pitch for repairs.
✓Clear, photographic reports — fast
Ask to see a sample report. It should list every defect plainly, with clear photographs, and arrive quickly (most good firms turn one around in 24–72 hours). That report is the document you’ll rely on, so its quality matters.
✓Covers your area, with upfront pricing
Confirm they cover your development and that the price is clear before you book. A typical new-build snagging survey starts from a couple of hundred pounds depending on the size of the home.
Questions to ask before you book
- →What are your qualifications and professional memberships?
- →Are you fully covered by professional indemnity insurance?
- →Can I see an example of one of your reports?
- →How long after the inspection will I get my report?
- →Do you only inspect, or do you also do repairs? (You want “inspect only”.)
- →Do you re-inspect once the builder says the work is done?
Where to find a good one
There’s no single national register, but a few routes surface the professionals quickly. The RICS Find a Surveyor directory (rics.org) lets you search by area and filter for residential surveys. For RPSA-accredited inspectors, search “RPSA snagging inspector” alongside your region — the good ones display their accreditation openly. Whoever you find, sense-check them against real, recent Google reviews, not just the testimonials on their own site.
Got your report? Put it to work
A snagging report is evidence — and evidence is exactly what makes a builder act, and what the Ombudsman runs on. Once you’ve sent your list to the builder, log it on Rate My New Build to start a dated, public record of what you reported and how they respond. Your report plus a clear timeline is a powerful combination.
Had your home inspected? Put it on the record.
Log your snags and track the builder’s response — free, private, and dated.
Review your builderGeneral information, not professional or legal advice. Always carry out your own checks — qualifications, insurance and reviews — before engaging any inspector.